So the other day I had my 95 ATX out for a spin for the first time in a while. It ran fine, started fine, and everything. I stopped in to talk with a friend and was there for a good 2-3 hours and when I went to leave the car was hard starting. My first attempt it cranked for like 15 seconds, a good fast crank but never fired. Waited a few seconds and tried it again and it cranked good for 3-5 seconds and all of a sudden stopped cranking like right now like the engine locked up, dome light went very dim and all like the starter was drawing way too much current. I try a few more times and the same thing cranks good for 2-3 seconds and just acts like it locks up. So I go back in my buddies place and ask for a ride home so about a half hour later when we are heading out I try one more time and it fires right up......any ideas on this one I am stumped? It didn't throw the CEL but I didn't run it very long after this either.
random hard starts
- Thread starter jab677
- Start date
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Bob Gervais
Wut?
Battery cable terminals, battery cables, connections at the starter, test the battery, test the starter.
NP SHO
Rice Killaaa
...and just because the CEL didn't come on doesn't mean it's not throwing codes. Break out the good old paperclip and check for codes. You might be surprised to see what comes up. Just a suggestion.
yeah I'll have to see what codes I may get. I don't think it the battery, cable, or starter though like I said the first attempt it cranked very good for about 15 seconds and never even tried to fire. Someone had mentioned a possible leaky injector and the engine actually did fuel lock but I don't know it should have fired on the first try I think.
sdpatt
Sr. SHO Engr.
When it cranks without firing, try turning the key to ON without turning all the way to START. Listen for the fuel pump for its 1.5 second prime. If no pump whine, then the fuel pump is likely faulty.
Check also for ťhe CID sensor code. It could be a failing cam sensor.
Check also for ťhe CID sensor code. It could be a failing cam sensor.
Bob Gervais
Wut?
This statement is saying that something is going on with the cables, connections, battery or starter. Leaky fuel injectors don't usually cause things like this.
Maybe two separate issues going on, one relating to hard starting, and this one.
FastAndFurious
SHO Member
Next time it happens, put the gas pedal to the floor.
My car gets flooded a lot, and doing that usually solves it.
My car gets flooded a lot, and doing that usually solves it.
No, it didn't fuel lock. The starter locked, that's what locked. You cranked the starter for too long of a period. If you're having bad cable connections, this will further increase the problem.
You need to clean your connections and reinstall them nice and tight. Once you've done this, you need to check for the fuel pump "buzz" of "hum" that SDPATT mentioned.
If the pump is working, try to prime the pump by turning the key to the "run" position [this is where all of the lights on the dash come on, but you are not cranking the engine] and back to the "off" position; repeat this very fast and then crank the engine after the 5th time or so. If you have a bad check valve, meaning you are not getting enough fuel to the rails/injectors, this will build the fuel pressure up to allow the engine to start up. You can also check the fuel pressure in the run position, a bad check valve will drop pressure to 0psi immediately after the gauge spikes from turning the key to the run position.
If you are not hearing the fuel pump, you will need to check if the fuel pump is receiving power or not. You do this by removing the fuel pump inertia switch in the trunk. This is mounted on the drivers side. The switch will have two red wires, one will receive power for a good second if the key is turned to the run position without the engine cranking. It should stay receiving power when the engine is being cranked. You can test this wire with a 12volt test light, something you can pick up for cheap at your local autostore. If it is receiving power, it's your fuel pump. If it is not receiving power, it's a CCRM problem.
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